Clinical Psychologist

The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) is seeking to recruit suitably a qualified person to fill the vacant position of CLINICAL  PSYCHOLOGIST (SOG/ST 8) in the Specialized and Medical Services Division with salary  ranging from $7,716,512 - $10,377,851 per  annum.

Job Purpose

Reporting to the Director, Medical Services, the incumbent is responsible for liaising with the other Corrections professionals working in the  Correctional Centers and Probation Services to provide a full range of psychological service  aimed at the improving the mental health of the inmates by developing intervention techniques  and treatment programmes for use with both incarcerated offenders and community-based  offenders.

Qualifications

• M.Sc. Degree in Clinical Psychology or Counselling Psychology;
• Three (3) years’ experience in  Therapeutic, or Counselling Clinical  Psychology.

Responsibilities

Managerial/Administrative:

• Establishes a permanent and ongoing  client- record keeping system for the  division, which must be linkable to the  Inmates existing docketing/records  system;
• Establishes and maintains directories of  relevant services (in collaboration with  Probation Aftercare Services);
• Establishes and maintains directories of  agencies and individuals to which inmates  may be referred;
• Approaches local and international  educational institutions/programmes to  which our inmates may be admitted;
• Organizes and implements relevant  training and staff-development  programmes for the various departments  and levels of staff;
• Supervises Counselling clinical practicum  student from various tertiary institutions  who come to the Correctional Centers on  supervised field practicum;
•  Advises prison staff on incidents;
• Attends Unit meetings;
• Manages the delivery of offender treatment programmes;
• Presents findings from assessments to a  wider staff audience;
• Monitors the adherence to treatment  procedures;
• Provides necessary reports to Court,  Parole Board and Privy Council;
• Makes recommendations regarding  policies concerning the psychological  operations of the Department.

Technical/Professional:

• Provides individual and group therapeutic counselling care for inmates/clients and  their families, with special attention to  mental health issues;
• Helps inmates/clients cope with/adjust to  mental health disorder/issues;
• Helps mentally ill inmates/clients accept  responsibility for their personal care;
• Helps clients/inmates deal with other  presenting issues; 
• Arranges the psychological testing, when  needed, for clients/inmates;
• Provides counselling for HIV/AIDS clients  (or staff) in the Correctional Centers;
• Carries out one to one assessments of  offenders;
• Undertakes research projects to evaluate  the contribution and effectiveness of intervention programmes;
• Assists in hostage negotiation;
• Convenes case conferences for the benefit of members of the rehabilitation team.

Other Responsibilities:

• The incumbent may, from time to time, be  assigned duties not specifically outlined within the job description but are within the capacity, qualifications and experience normally expected from a person  occupying this position.

Required knowledge

• Excellent knowledge of group dynamic in  the treatment of psychological disorder;
• Excellent knowledge of sociological factors that influence behaviour disorder;
• Excellent knowledge of psychological evaluation and intervention;
• Knowledge of the organization’s policies  and procedures;
• Ability to counsel persons who have  HIV/AIDS or are facing HIV testing;
• Familiarity with mental health issues and  challenges;
• Good problem-solving skills and strength  of character;
• Excellent presentation, oral and written  communication skills;
• Clinical Analysis skills;
• Good interpersonal skills;
• Proficiency in the use of relevant computer applications.

Special conditions

• May be required to work beyond the normal working hours;
• May be required to work on weekends and public holidays;
• Exposure to high-risk environment within Correctional Facilities and their environs;
• Highly stressful and hazardous  environment;
• Exposure to confidential information.

Note

Kindly submit cover letter and resume no later than Friday, January 31, 2025.

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Contact

Senior Director,

Human Resource Management and Administration

Department of Correctional Services

UDC Building, Block 4, Shop 13-15

12 Ocean Boulevard,

Kingston 

Jamaica

Base Salary: Undisclosed